I've always kept a binder with all my records for all my horses. I've done it since I was about 10 years old. Not that I ever had to put any records in it, I never had any besides the registration papers for one of my horses. Well, in the past couple years, I lost that binder. I found it yesterday! Boy, was it interesting to go back and see all the farrier dates, websites, and everything else I put into that binder from 2006. I even know the exact date from when Buck split his hoof open a while back. I looked at my empty folders for Elvis and Presley, the mini pony and mini donkey I owned, and my empty folders for Buck and Gus. I guess I'm the ex-owner for Buck too. (Yes, one of these days I'll do a complete post on him. And I guess you'll want a post of the Elvis and Presley days too.) Anyways, as I was looking through it, I decided to take everything out that wasn't about Gus or Buck, because I never had any records for Elvis and Presley anyways, and I no longer own them. I decided to keep Buck's folder though, because I want to record in great detail how he was sold. Just in case, you know? Of course I kept Gus's folder, because I still have him, and I'm assuming that in a month or so, I'm going to have vet records an inch thick.
Okay, I'm getting kind of off-track, but most of this is necessary for you to understand where I'm going with this whole post. I decided that every month, I am going to write up a new update on Gussers to put in his folder. Well, yesterday, before bravely going outside to see my horse (seriously, its a brave feat. Those cows we have will run you over. I'm not even kidding.) I typed up an update for Gus. Little did I know that I was dead wrong about Gus's body condition score.
Wait, now I have to backtrack a bit. The body condition scoring system is basically how you rate how healthy your horse is. A 1 being severely emaciated (basically almost dead) and a 10 being severely obese. A 5 would be the perfect place for your horse to be on the scale, with a healthy weight.
Well, when I wrote up Gus's update, I put him at a 4.5 on the body condition scoring scale, saying that I would like to see him gain a bit more weight. However, after going to really look him over, I would say that he's more like a 6. My horse is chubby. He does not need to gain weight, he needs to lose some. Now, I'm not saying he needs to lose a lot, probably only around 20 pounds, but still. He's got a gut. What can I say, we were made for each other. So, I corrected my update and re-printed it. Here is what it said:
Gus Update- 10/30/31
Health: Overall, Gus’s body score is 5.5 or 6. I’d like to see him lose a bit more weight. We desperately need to have the vet out to float his teeth and clean his sheath. In June of this year, I found a suspicious lump on his stifle area. We had the vet out, and we were going to have her back out in a month or so to do a biopsy on it. Well, now it is the end of October and nothing has been done. We have to have a biopsy done soon to determine whether it is cancerous or not. I’m also worried about Gus’s cough, which he has had for about a year, but it is now getting worse. These are all things that we will have the vet check as soon as my parents make the appointment. I’m also going to talk to the vet about vaccinations, because after all, Gus is 27 and I think that he needs them. Gus’s hooves are kind of brittle right now. We have a farrier appointment for the 3rd of November, and I’ll ask him about that then. I’m also going to start doing carrot stretches with Gus, so he limbers up a bit. He’s a little stiff right now, what with the cold weather and him being 27.
Shelter: We really need to take off the top of the barn before winter comes. Otherwise, I can just see a repeat of last year when the wind knocked it down and the horses were in danger. We are going to build a shelter for Gus this winter, since the barn is really no shelter at all. The shelter will be like a lean-to, only we will be able to completely close him in if the weather gets harsh enough. It will be roomy enough for him to walk around a little bit, and have room for a water trough inside.
Extras: I decided not to blanket him this year. Apparently this winter isn’t supposed to be as bad as last year, and Gus just tears them off anyway. Plus, he grows a pretty good winter coat. I’ll just have to be extra careful about keeping him clean, dry, and warm. Right now he is with 3 cows, but not for long. Soon he will be by himself, and I’m a bit worried about how that will affect him. He’ll have to learn to have me as his only companion.
That's the end of it. So, I'll tell you about what happened when I went out to see my baby. First, I take back what I said about him being flighty. He walked right up to me, didn't bat an eye, and let me touch him all over. He didn't want me to leave. Before I went out there, I was worried about what was going to happen with him on the 3rd, when he had his farrier's appointment and I was at school (I was thinking that if I couldn't catch him, the person he trusts most, how in the world was my mom going to be able to catch him?) but now I realize that it will be fine. I'll put a halter on him this weekend so my mom doesn't have to figure out how to do that, and it'll be easy as pie. However, I don't think that will stop me from stressing out during the school day, looking over at the lock anxiously, tapping my fingers and fidgeting when it gets to be 9:30. (The time of the appointment.)
Tomorrow's the horse show! I'm kind of nervous. Luckily, I finally found my helmet. By making a phone call. Apparently, I left it at my sister's house. So, I'll be up early tomorrow, getting ready for a horse show. I have to be at the barn by 8 in the morning. Fun stuff. Fortunately, its a fun show, so we don't have to dress up (only dress warm!) and our horses don't have to be bathed. Yay for fun shows that still offer real classes!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Ugh.
Okay, so this entry is basically for what happened on Monday, the 27th.
So, I go to my Monday night horseback riding lesson, which is at 5:00. I'm riding O'Rion, and doing really good. Except, then we're cantering, and he's being a total butt head, trying to go to the middle, trotting really fast, and refusing to canter. Absolute butt. Anyways, the barn owner, Barb, was like, "Get that girl off my horse right now! I'm so tired of re-schooling him, and now I see what the problem is. She needs to go back to Dreamer (a beginner pony) and get this crap resolved." I started crying SO hard. There I was, trying my best, and Barb was telling me that I was ruining her horse. And she called me 'that girl.' I PAY 30 FREAKING DOLLARS AN HOUR AND BOARDED MY HORSE THERE FOR FOUR FREAKING MONTHS. MY FREAKING NAME IS KATIE GOSHDANGIT! Luckily, my trainer, Kris, immediately told Barb off, chewing her out. Well, she didn't do it in front of us, but she went over and talked to Barb. When she came back, I was still bawling, because I really didn't mean to 'ruin' O'Rion. He's just a pain in the butt sometimes. Anyways, Kris told me that 'she kicked Barb's butt for that' and that I wasn't ruining O'Rion, and how she doesn't know how Barb could say that. Barb never apologized to me though...I hate her. She is a bitch. She's always screaming at her lesson kids, and shes SO mean. All the time. This is just the first time that she actually made me cry that hard. Whoa, I'm crying just thinking about it. Unfortunately, my Monday night lessons are ending for a few weeks because Fiona, who's parents give me a ride, isn't going for a little while. She's taking a little break, (mainly because her parents forced her.)
Oh, and things are great with Kris now...my mom called Kris, about that problem I already told you about, and Kris understood. It was a large misunderstanding on both sides. I'm going to start private lessons, so I can advance to the jumping class faster. I'm hoping I should be there within a month or two at the latest.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that Saturday we're having a fun show at the barn. I have to be there by 8 in the morning, so no late-night Halloween partying for me. I'm riding Henderson in English Equitation and English Pleasure, w/t/c. It should be fun as long as Henderson doesn't freak out again like he did at the last show. What a dork. But I love him. =).
So, I go to my Monday night horseback riding lesson, which is at 5:00. I'm riding O'Rion, and doing really good. Except, then we're cantering, and he's being a total butt head, trying to go to the middle, trotting really fast, and refusing to canter. Absolute butt. Anyways, the barn owner, Barb, was like, "Get that girl off my horse right now! I'm so tired of re-schooling him, and now I see what the problem is. She needs to go back to Dreamer (a beginner pony) and get this crap resolved." I started crying SO hard. There I was, trying my best, and Barb was telling me that I was ruining her horse. And she called me 'that girl.' I PAY 30 FREAKING DOLLARS AN HOUR AND BOARDED MY HORSE THERE FOR FOUR FREAKING MONTHS. MY FREAKING NAME IS KATIE GOSHDANGIT! Luckily, my trainer, Kris, immediately told Barb off, chewing her out. Well, she didn't do it in front of us, but she went over and talked to Barb. When she came back, I was still bawling, because I really didn't mean to 'ruin' O'Rion. He's just a pain in the butt sometimes. Anyways, Kris told me that 'she kicked Barb's butt for that' and that I wasn't ruining O'Rion, and how she doesn't know how Barb could say that. Barb never apologized to me though...I hate her. She is a bitch. She's always screaming at her lesson kids, and shes SO mean. All the time. This is just the first time that she actually made me cry that hard. Whoa, I'm crying just thinking about it. Unfortunately, my Monday night lessons are ending for a few weeks because Fiona, who's parents give me a ride, isn't going for a little while. She's taking a little break, (mainly because her parents forced her.)
Oh, and things are great with Kris now...my mom called Kris, about that problem I already told you about, and Kris understood. It was a large misunderstanding on both sides. I'm going to start private lessons, so I can advance to the jumping class faster. I'm hoping I should be there within a month or two at the latest.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that Saturday we're having a fun show at the barn. I have to be there by 8 in the morning, so no late-night Halloween partying for me. I'm riding Henderson in English Equitation and English Pleasure, w/t/c. It should be fun as long as Henderson doesn't freak out again like he did at the last show. What a dork. But I love him. =).
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Gussers.
Okay, here's my complete update on my senior pony Gus. (He's not really a pony...he's 15.2hh) This summer, we discovered a bump the size of a small golf ball near his sheath area. We are not sure if it is a tumor or not, or if it is cancerous. We are going to have the vet out to a biopsy on it as soon as we are able to afford it. While he's out, the vet is also going to float his teeth and clean his sheath, as both are long overdue. Gus has a really bad cough too, so we'll also have the vet, who from now on is referred to as Karen, look at that.
Lately, Gus hasn't been doing much at all. In fact, I hardly see him. After we sold Buck he got extremely flighty, very quickly. Now, we have cows in our pasture for his company. However, they will be butchered next Saturday (and don't hate me for this, as I am a vegetarian and will not be partaking in our home-raised meat. It completely disgusts me.) However, the cows scare the crap out of me, as they try to run you over the minute you step inside the pasture. Gus has happily bonded to these very same cows. Gus is also extremely happy that no one bothers him with grooming anymore. He is very content to see me once in the morning for his hay, eat it, promptly tell me to go the heck away, and go play with his cows. He enjoys the 'little human contact' life very much.
I, on the other hand, miss my lovable pony. So, after the cows...'leave'....Gus will predictably go into a depression, with no companion animals. So, I intend to be that companion animal for Gus! Gus will then have to turn to me for all the attention he needs. Within a few weeks, predictably, as Gus's behavior is never really surprising, he will be again bonded to me and not flighty like a wild mustang. This will mean various changes in both of our schedules though...I'll have to get up earlier every morning to feed and groom him, probably at around 5:30 on Mondays, 6:30on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and then at like 7 for Thursday and Friday, and later on the weekends.
Now, we have to get the top of our barn torn down before the wind starts picking up this winter. Last year, and some day I'll post the aftermath pictures, our hay loft blew apart and caused some major damage. We're going to build Gus a lean-to for this winter though, because the barn is falling apart and it is not adequate shelter. We'll put those nice rubber mats in it, [those super expensive but yet amazing mats that barns use in their stalls, we have a ton of excess mats] and supply lots of shavings for him to keep warm with, because I decided not to blanket him this year. It'll be a fully enclosed lean-to, so when the weather gets really harsh, we can shut him inside and know that he'll be okay. My dad loves to make things bigger than they need to be, so it'll be roomy, with enough room for a water trough and feed bins inside. I don't know when we're going to start building this though, that's the problem. My dad is being a procrastinator.
Overall, I'm not exactly looking forward to this winter. The winters here are harsh and severely cold, with wind gales forceful enough to knock you off your feet. Ew. I'm also really worried about Gus's health condition, and can't wait for the vet to come. That reminds me, it's time to schedule another farrier appointment....Gus has a huge crack in one of his front hooves. Wish me luck for winter horse keeping!
Lately, Gus hasn't been doing much at all. In fact, I hardly see him. After we sold Buck he got extremely flighty, very quickly. Now, we have cows in our pasture for his company. However, they will be butchered next Saturday (and don't hate me for this, as I am a vegetarian and will not be partaking in our home-raised meat. It completely disgusts me.) However, the cows scare the crap out of me, as they try to run you over the minute you step inside the pasture. Gus has happily bonded to these very same cows. Gus is also extremely happy that no one bothers him with grooming anymore. He is very content to see me once in the morning for his hay, eat it, promptly tell me to go the heck away, and go play with his cows. He enjoys the 'little human contact' life very much.
I, on the other hand, miss my lovable pony. So, after the cows...'leave'....Gus will predictably go into a depression, with no companion animals. So, I intend to be that companion animal for Gus! Gus will then have to turn to me for all the attention he needs. Within a few weeks, predictably, as Gus's behavior is never really surprising, he will be again bonded to me and not flighty like a wild mustang. This will mean various changes in both of our schedules though...I'll have to get up earlier every morning to feed and groom him, probably at around 5:30 on Mondays, 6:30on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and then at like 7 for Thursday and Friday, and later on the weekends.
Now, we have to get the top of our barn torn down before the wind starts picking up this winter. Last year, and some day I'll post the aftermath pictures, our hay loft blew apart and caused some major damage. We're going to build Gus a lean-to for this winter though, because the barn is falling apart and it is not adequate shelter. We'll put those nice rubber mats in it, [those super expensive but yet amazing mats that barns use in their stalls, we have a ton of excess mats] and supply lots of shavings for him to keep warm with, because I decided not to blanket him this year. It'll be a fully enclosed lean-to, so when the weather gets really harsh, we can shut him inside and know that he'll be okay. My dad loves to make things bigger than they need to be, so it'll be roomy, with enough room for a water trough and feed bins inside. I don't know when we're going to start building this though, that's the problem. My dad is being a procrastinator.
Overall, I'm not exactly looking forward to this winter. The winters here are harsh and severely cold, with wind gales forceful enough to knock you off your feet. Ew. I'm also really worried about Gus's health condition, and can't wait for the vet to come. That reminds me, it's time to schedule another farrier appointment....Gus has a huge crack in one of his front hooves. Wish me luck for winter horse keeping!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wow.
Hey guys. Its been absolutely forever since I posted. I'm so sorry. So, a quick one paragraph update to tell you whats been going on in my horsey life for the past 5 months.
Well, I sold Buck. For $300. Now the person who has him is trying to sell him as a kids horse. Idiot. I told them he's dangerous. I'm so upset at them...but at the same time super glad that he's gone. (And get this, they're trying to sell him for $2,500. Crazy, they'll never get that much for him.) This summer, I was riding Nick, a horse at my barn, and he galloped off with me. I immediately lost all confidence...this summer was horrible for me. I had no confidence whatsoever because of that incident. Now, however, I'm pretty much better. Not fearless like I used to be, more timid, but not freaking out either. I've decided that I want to event. I love jumping, it's my passion. However, just today, this happened:
Really bad news.
So I went to my lesson today. Apparently like, everybody except me and this other girl in my lesson got bumped up to the more advanced lesson, where they focus on jumping. So of course, I was was upset, and jealous...I didn't say anything though. Kris [my trainer] had me and the other girl, Analisa, ride WESTERN. Apparently, she wants me to start riding western for a while, and get my confidence back and stop my leg from flying all over the place. [I guess she wants us to do stuff like rollbacks and stuff....which sounds extremely fun but I want to JUMP.] Then, she told me, after I asked if I would ever get to be in the more advanced jumping class, that 'it was possible, but not for a while.' She told me I wasn't being demoted or anything, and that she's been losing sleep over what to do with me, but she doesn't think eventing is going to be my thing. She doesn't even want me to do freaking hunter/jumper! SHE WANTS ME TO FOCUS ON DRESSAGE. I hate dressage...not a ton, its fine for every once in a while, but I want to JUMP. She said that 'I'm not saying your never going to jump again, but I'm not saying when either.' I'm so upset. I want to jump...not ride western. It was fun to do it for just once, but she wants us to focus on that for a while! I'm like, bawling. I really really want to jump. I'd do ANYTHING to get into that jumping class, ANYTHING. I don't know what to do....I think I'm going to have my mom call and talk to her. What do you think I should do? My mom wants us to switch barns, because Kris isn't really considering what I want to do with my horsey life, but I don't want to switch because I love my barn, and as much as Kris confuses me right now, she's the best trainer I've ever had and I love her. Ugh, I'm so confused and hurt. =[
So much for one paragraph, huh?
Well, I sold Buck. For $300. Now the person who has him is trying to sell him as a kids horse. Idiot. I told them he's dangerous. I'm so upset at them...but at the same time super glad that he's gone. (And get this, they're trying to sell him for $2,500. Crazy, they'll never get that much for him.) This summer, I was riding Nick, a horse at my barn, and he galloped off with me. I immediately lost all confidence...this summer was horrible for me. I had no confidence whatsoever because of that incident. Now, however, I'm pretty much better. Not fearless like I used to be, more timid, but not freaking out either. I've decided that I want to event. I love jumping, it's my passion. However, just today, this happened:
Really bad news.
So I went to my lesson today. Apparently like, everybody except me and this other girl in my lesson got bumped up to the more advanced lesson, where they focus on jumping. So of course, I was was upset, and jealous...I didn't say anything though. Kris [my trainer] had me and the other girl, Analisa, ride WESTERN. Apparently, she wants me to start riding western for a while, and get my confidence back and stop my leg from flying all over the place. [I guess she wants us to do stuff like rollbacks and stuff....which sounds extremely fun but I want to JUMP.] Then, she told me, after I asked if I would ever get to be in the more advanced jumping class, that 'it was possible, but not for a while.' She told me I wasn't being demoted or anything, and that she's been losing sleep over what to do with me, but she doesn't think eventing is going to be my thing. She doesn't even want me to do freaking hunter/jumper! SHE WANTS ME TO FOCUS ON DRESSAGE. I hate dressage...not a ton, its fine for every once in a while, but I want to JUMP. She said that 'I'm not saying your never going to jump again, but I'm not saying when either.' I'm so upset. I want to jump...not ride western. It was fun to do it for just once, but she wants us to focus on that for a while! I'm like, bawling. I really really want to jump. I'd do ANYTHING to get into that jumping class, ANYTHING. I don't know what to do....I think I'm going to have my mom call and talk to her. What do you think I should do? My mom wants us to switch barns, because Kris isn't really considering what I want to do with my horsey life, but I don't want to switch because I love my barn, and as much as Kris confuses me right now, she's the best trainer I've ever had and I love her. Ugh, I'm so confused and hurt. =[
So much for one paragraph, huh?
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